Please could anyone recommend anyting to help with easing the tangles out of Zaks coat and beard.

He hates to be brushed or combed and loves to run in mud and grass, not a good combination!!

I try a little bit of grooming every day but he gets so sad. He never snaps or anything you can just tell he hates it.

Is there anything that can ease the tangles free? such as any sprays or shampoos etc.

I have got a mat splitter and clippers etc (he is clipped on the body as I don't show him and find it easier than stripping, which I assume he would also hate).

I am a qualified hairdresser so am able to cope with his coat (I clip him) but assume that any products for people would be to harsh. Im not worried about how he looks as such (as long as he is recognisable) but don't want to clip him out again as he looked absolutely ridiculous, a bit like a fat bodied, thin legged Jack Russell crossed with Skippy the Kangaroo!!!!!!!!!

Any help appreciated by both of us!

Sarah and scruffy (Zak)

you may find a pair of thinning scissors very useful (as shnauzers tend to be hair sore) not ideal but they will help to take out the worst of the knots / mats.

Thanks,

I have got a pair in my hairdressing kit so I will donate them to Zaks box.

sarah

Sarah,
My mom has done her own clipping for years on her Schnauzers. She lives up in Seattle with Juniper trees and other brambly stuff in their yard. Plus the wet and mist doesnt' help either.

It's not "typical", but it works to keep them clean. She trims down the belly hair almost as smooth as the back. She used to let a fringe grow around the sides to "hide" her trimmage. But now she doesn't bother (I did the "fringe" with my Yorkie and scissor cut her belly --worked quite well).

She also doesn't let the leg and chest hairs grow as long as "authorized", but nuts, the dogs were happier. I know that keeping the arm pit hairs scissor cut as short as possible were important since they rub and matt. It's really too sensitive to keep those brushed out.

One time, she decided to shave a beard off --- Sonsie was very upset for the next few weeks. She hid or would lie with her paws over her muzzle. Very odd behavior, so she never did that again :) She does keep the hair (again), shorter than normal on their beards, but happy clean dogs were easier than trying to attain a show type :) :) :D
hth and good luck.
toodles

Hi sarah,

Thanks for the advice, I too can't be bothered with the show look. I keep Zak looking a bit like a pup, I thought he looked sweet that way. Beard is about 1" long, mostache (sp) a couple of inches and leg hair is just growing back from the summer clipping horror:D :D :D

I didn't know that they are a sensitive breed regards grooming, thought I had just picked a big baby.

He isnt that keen on any aspect of grooming but will after a year tolerate the clippers without being sedated. I thought it would be kinder to sedate him gently each time so that he learnt that he wasn't going to die. It worked as well, the first two times I clipped him he nearly had a fit, he seemed so scared. Not sure if his first going over was a bit rough (he was stripped the day before we got him at 9 weeks) but he didnt like it one bit.

Now several clips later he stands on a bench for me and is generally happy. I do him in the garden and every 10 minutes we go for a play session on the lawn, good for his wellbeing and my back.

I think I will keep his belly shorter, I had let it grow lately as I quite like the fringe bit, so i'll leave that on and just do in the middle.

I have been so tempted to clip his beard off as he is a dribbly dog, the old girls at the nursing home we go to call him 'wet whiskers' or Barney not sure where that one came from!!!!!!!!

Thank again for the advice

Sarah

That is interesting eog.
I think a trim that looks something like it should, with judicious areas trimmed really short is a good compromise.

I did this with a relatives badly matted Samoyed (castrated dog) trimmed his tummy completely short, but left the sides, so that he looked full coated. Same with Armpits, insides of back legs,and used thinning scissors in the areas that matted most, and to just remove some bulk caused by the excesive undrcoat growth common with neuters.

Much cleaner sweeter smelling dog, that still looked like a sammy!

I hate to see long cfoated breeds clipped down to the skin all over, but cut shorter to look a bit more like apuppy coat looks so much nicer.

Hi Brainless,

Have just finished a mamouth trimming session. Took Zak's tummy fur right off and just left a skirt at the sides (didn't tell Zak it was a 'skirt' though as he thinks he's very tough after last nights chase) Also removed all the hair between the hind legs and armpits as sara suggested.:D

After all this he still looks like a mini should, wellllll. :O............... nearly, unfortunately his beard took a bit of a bashing and the mostache suffered rather badly too. It was very matted and he dribbles so much that I decided to take that off as well (only the bit on the lower jaw). I never have his beard very long anyway but now he looks a little bit silly in a very cute way, the girls say he looks like a pup again.

I am sure he feels like a new dog now, his armpits were really quite tangly, and he really reacts if I try to comb him in sensitive places

Also I went to pets at home and bought thier anti tangle everything!!!!!!!!!!!

Just hope the foxes don't come back tonight..............I can picture the scene, Zak rushing out to defend his land and the foxes taking one look at him and falling over laughing.:D :D :D

Sarah and slaphead

Lol Sarah only a slaphead if you gelled it down as well:D :D :D
Gillian

Hi Gillian,

One side was a bit longer than the other so I could have gelled it over like Bobby Charlton.:D :D :D :D

Sarah

Instead of calling it a skirt, just say he's looking quite Scots in his Kilt ;) :D :D :D

:D I'll try that.

Could always say he looks a bit foxy:D

He doesn't seem to be put out at all by his short back and sides, but is very tired, I wonder if he got much sleep after the events of last night. I've had the neighbours round (lab people) who were worried that the fox had got him...........as if.

Sarah

I spray on a bit of conditioner (dog coat conditioner) and gently pull one blade of a pair of scissors through the mat. It will seperate most of the mat. Sometimes snipping the mat off with scissors is the kindest way. They do hate being groomed, but it's just something they have to get used to on a regular basis. They do look comical without their leg furnishings don't they? I always have to laugh when Stan, my mini, gets his legs wet. They look a completely different breed altogether don't they?

Hi Nicola,

Thanks for the reply. Zak reminded me of a wooden rocking horse with stick legs. He loved it though, no grooming!!!!!!!!

I vowed that I would comb him everyday to keep the tangles at bay, but have not kept him as silky as needed obviously.

The mat splitter is the same as the blade on scissors, so that gets used alot. I also got a dog conditioner but that does not seem to be that impressive. Is there a particular brand of spray on conditioner? Is one you can buy on-line any better than pets at home varietys??

My husband has threatened to divorce me if I clip zaks legs again, so maybe thats an option:D :D :D

I have some stuff called serum shine which I use on peoples hair, you put it on wet and it works like magic, I was a bit worried about skin probs etc occurring though, he hasn't any at the moment so I would like to keep it that way. Its ingredients are cyclomethicone and dimethicone if there are any budding scientists out there.

Thanks again

Sarah

I would buy a spray on conditioner and just aim it at the mat you are trying to disentangle. I bought mine from a dog show. I believe it was from Simpsons. Their telephone number is on this board somewhere. I think other breeders have recommeded good conditioners on this board as well. Conditioners shouldn't really be used on a regular basis on a mini's coat as it has to be fairly harsh, however a bit sprayed directly onto a mat is OK. It only helps a bit and doesn't work miracles I'm afraid. Once you've got mats, they're a b****r to get out. It's best to give them a quick groom everyday. Sounds like your mini has a real aversion to being groomed which is a problem. Must don't like it but learn to tolerate it. I'm not sure what to suggest, but be firm but patient, and give your mini lots of rewards on the grooming table maybe?

Hi Nicola,

Thanks for the advice, is it you that is into mini's?. I remember posting to someone called nicola recently.

I went to pets at home yesterday and bought anti tangle shampoo, conditioner and spray!!!!!!!!!! bathed him and combed him half to death while clipping or cutting all the tangles out. Makes me sound as if I have neglected him for months doesn't it, (I think that my regular feeble rake through with a variety of grooming impliments has only smoothed the top layer).

However he now looks like a well groomed, albeit abit non standard mini. Talking of which, is the necessity for a harsh coat for showing or personal preference. He has never had a very harsh coat compared to the other dogs owned by the breeder (who does show) but to make matters worse I dont strip him, (I think he would eat me alive), but clip him instead. It has never been my intention to show him although he has got a few rosettes in exemption shows locally!!

He is not nasty when he tries to stop me grooming him, he just tries to grab the brush or comb or my hand (fairly gently) to stop what he regards as an irritation.

Nice to hear from you, call again:D :D

Sarah and the baldycoot.

Hi,

Yes I have a mini and responded earlier as well.

Harsh coats are only necessary for showing really, or as a personal preference, so this information was probably a bit of a red herring for you, as you clip your mini's coat, which will make it soft.

I remember when I first started out with the grooming. I thought I was being quite thorough with the combing, and when I went to the lady who was showing me the ropes, we found quite a few mats, mainly round the toes, and on the legs. You really need to gently back comb up the leg to ensure you discover any mats, as a quick comb down in the direction of the coat won't always suffice.

Your mini sounds very good natured. My one plays up at first on the grooming table, but eventually settles down. He soon lets me know if I'm hurting him though, and he will give me a warning nip. He is instantly sorry and licks my hand as an apology, but it's just enough to tell me to go more gently next time! He hates the electric clippers and will get a bit distressed when I switch these on. It's only when I use them that he works himself up, because when my 'tutor' was helping me he was as good as gold! He can obviously sense I'm not nearly as confident!

I try and rest the trimmers next to him (so they are touching him) when they're on, and wait for him to calm down, and then start trimming. I usually have to repeat this a number of times. It's really vital that they don't become permanently scared of the trimmers, otherwise it will be an awful experience for the both of you.

Good luck with your continued grooming...it's a tricky business at first. I'm still trying to master it for showing! I'm nearly there I think. It's been scary and disheartening along the way, but worth it in the end.

Johnsons baby products anti tangle . I found it good :)
Mari

Hi Mari,

Had thought about that one but worried about skin reactions. Do you think if its ok for kids its ok for dogs, Hope so:) :) :)

Thanks Sarah

Baby oil can be toxically absorbed through the skin and inhaled into the lungs if there is too much put on. Not as safe as everyone thinks. Apparently new label warnings are coming out soon due to some children's deaths :(

HI Toodles it is not an oil it is a type of conditioner
But If there is any doubt I agree dont use it . better be sure than sorry . Mari